Crossbar



Feb. 26, 1963 v H. E. RoLFE, JR

cRossBAR v 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2, 1960 INVENTOR. v /yerzefz fm/"y, Tf

Feb. 26, 1963 H. E. RoLFE, JR

CROSSBAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 2, 1960 l JNVENTOR. ,f7/Zeri l 7a/"ye, Jv.'

BY i Feb. 26, 1963 H. E. RoLFE, JR 3,078,813

cRossBAR Filed May 2, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 26, 1963 Filed May 2, 1960 H. E. ROLFE, JR

CROSSBAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Feb- 26, 1963 H. E. ROLFE, JR

CROSSBAR 5 Sl'Aeets--Sheei'I 5 Filed May 2, 1960 United States Patent Utilice 3,078,813 Patented Fe'b. 26,

letras-,1c

CROSSBAR Her-'heit .n Reife, in., 'oar'den city, Mich., 'assigner Va yThisinvention relates to freight :bracing systems having -a `plurality V- of freight `bracing bars `releasablyl confnected to-belt rails Isecured on opposed :side walls of a .,freight: storagespace so v`that Ithe frei gint-bracing barsV 'span f-between the'sidewallsvinjposition tobrace articles Yof .ffreight. More particularly this invention relates to'an improved endtfit'ting for releasably connecting the 'fend :of 'afreight bracing `bar to a belt zrail.

One'fexam'ple -ofapop'ular freight'bracing system of the prior art which is used in many railroad box cars Acomprises a plurality of parallel belt rails secured to opposite sidewalls of the box earn/ith each belt rail being aligned -with a corresponding belt rail on the opposite side wall. A Aplurality of freight bracing bars are provided which are adapted to span between the side Walls Vand which have end`fittings on the ends thereof for releasably connecting'the freight bracing bars to the belt rails. The

freightbracing bars can be connected to different pairs of belt rails and at many different positions along each belt rail so that'they can `spanthe box-carat almost any kde- `siredpoint to brace articles of freight Within'the boxcar. vTheend fittings on each end of the freight bracing bar generally have pins projecting therefrom in the samedi- Irection which are adapted to fit intoholesin' the belt rail to connect the end of'the Tfreight bracing bar thereto, a suitable releasable latching .mechanism being provided tolprevent the disengagement of the pins from the holes.

It is one object of the present invention Vtoprovide Van improved end fitting which can be releasably connected to a belt rail in a simple manner Vand which slidably vsupports the bar on thebelt rail in a manner to enablea workman to slide the freight bracing ba-r from one position to another Without having to lift yand support the 'entire Weightof the freight bracing bar.

It is another object of the invention'toprovideanend l'fitting which can be slidably supported 'on a belt railfto enable the freight bracing bar Vto be moved to different positions along thel belt rail as described above,'and'which can be rotated through a small angle to be locked to the belt rail.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an endfitting Whichcan'be 'slidably supported on a belt rail and having pin means thereon adapted to berotated into locking engagement with opposite ysides of the `belt rail to lock the end'fitting against movement along thefbelt Irail, radditional means being providedfor releasably locking-the end'tting against rotation to maintain the pin means in locking engagement with the. belt rail.

It is a still `further object .of the invention to yprovide 'iran end 'fitting for releasably connecting'the end 'of a freight 'bracing bar to a belt rail which can be .slidably moved along the belt vrail to bring'the freight bracing bar intoposition against anrartcle of freight and which can vbe rotated relative to the freight bracing Ybar while the bar is held against'the freight to .lock itself to Lthe'belt rail.

It is a still further object'of the invention-to provide an end fitting adapted to be telescopically mounted in the end of a freight bracing bar and having a rotatable head thereon adapted to be slidably sunuorted on the belt rail and'rotated relative to the belt rail to lock-the end fitting thereto.

K YItis astillfurtherobject of thevinvention to provide an endg-fitting having -an'inner end adapted to `b e telescopically mounted within and releasably Vlocked against i2 v .rotationrrelative tothefendofa'freight bracing barand :having an integral head'lon lthe outer'endf-theeofaiiaptd to v'slidably rest ontheriibeltrailband having -pin inea'ns thereon adapted 'to .Lbe rotated into locking engagement 5 :with 'opposite :sdesiofthebelt rail lby'rotti'ng the-tend .fitting relative to .the freight -bracingban kIt isa still 'further "object` of `the invention' totv provide :an end fitting `lcomprising .an elongated body rhavingthe :innerrend :adapted to-be telescopicallymountedlvvithin the end of acfreightbr-acingiba'r and the outere'nd adapted tto slidably :engage the lbelt railfrin la manner zto'permit .slidingimovement along theibeltral andprevent-ljmoveyment.perpendicular'to th'ebelt rail, and ahead rotatably :mounted onlth'e body having pin means Jthereon l adapted l5 ltol' be rotatd into locking en'gagement'with opposite-sides .off the v.beltd railto .lock thev yend writting*x against movement along .the beltfy rail. v y

It lis a stillfifurther 'object 'of thenventionftoprovide 'an endittingIforreleasably connecting the 'end ofcafre'ight bracinglb'ar to La `belt rail *whichl is-rugged eons't'ruction, simpleand effective inuse and economical-'to' fabriqcate.

Otherfobjectsand features of novelty of -the=invetion will `be :specifically pointed out for other-Wise bec'omefap- I'parent When referring, for albetter understanding-Eoflthe finventiorn vto kthe followingdescrip'tion taken inconjunction Ywith lthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE lfis a perspective View of the inside f a'b scar having fa freight bracing vsystem embodying features of the present invention installed therein; l

FIGZ is .an enlarged side '-view of the structure fillustratedin the-ly circle Afof TFIG. ll vviththe freig'litbracing ubarfpartially Abroken away; Y l .FIG -3 :is "an enlargedisectional view of the `structure ftillustrated 1in iFIG. 2, taken 'along -the lline 3-"3 `Ather'eo FIG. 4?.'is-a sectional view of thestructure illustrated in FIGB, takenalong the Eline v4 4 therec'if';

4FIGfSisl a fragmentary sectional vievvlof the zstructure ,Y FIG. 6 isaviewfsimilar toithatof FIG. l3 fillutrating lthe end ttingiafterlit has beenrotat'abl'yldisengagedfrom fthe belt rail; v g

'FIG. 7IisiaQview-"simil'arto thatfof FIG."2 illustrating fanother embodiment of the 'end fitting f the-presentimvention telescopically mountedwithin'theend 'of afreight ibracing bar shownfin section; n p

4FIGSLis avsectional view ofthe fstructure illustrated 2in IFIG. 7, taken along the line 8-8 there'of;

EFIG. 9 is afisectionalviewiof thelstructureiillustrated iinFiG. 7, ltaken alongthelline '-9-'9 thereof; f

FIG. lOis'a iside 'view similar to'that of 5FIG.`7 {Wi'th :the 'end t of -the'. freight bracing baripartially "shown in !sectiongillustrating still .another embodiment oflftliei'present invention;

1 FIG, .Iltis 'afplan View of the end ttingtillustifated in -'FIG. l0;

PIG, 12 is a ,sectional'view 'of the structuretakenfalohg -thelineglZ-lllof FIG. 10; t FIG. '13 -is'a fragmentarysectional-view-ofmetstructi 0 'ilustratedinll 12,:taken alongthe 1ine213-413-*there- 'ogfan Y ,FIG. 214. is a-perspectivevi'ew of the Ksldable latch member illustrated in ,'FIG. 7. Referring to FIG. 31, .the interior Vvof a railroad tbox car 20isfil1ustrated with afreight Ibraoin'g systeminvstalledthereinin accordanceiwith the teaching OftPatent No. 2,497,683 to S,fM.-.Nampa et :ah-issuedTonFebruany v14, 1950. The-freight'bracing Vsystem brietlycomprises -afplural-ity of parallel, angle-shaped belt rails zzmounted 5yerrand extending :longitudinally of the.v sidewalls of the box car. "The horizontal flanges-of eachiof thebeltrails have a plurality `of holes 23 therein, and each o`f the belt rails is aligned with a corresponding belt rail on the opposite side wall. A plurality of freight bracing bars 24 span between and are releasably connected to the belt rails by end fittings 26.

The freight bracing bars can span between the side walls in a number of different positions for securing articles of freight within the box car. One or both of the end fittings is preferably telescopically mounted within the end of each freight bracing bar to compensate for variations in the spacing between the side walls at different positions within the box car and to prevent stresses from being imposed on the bars in the event the walls should expand or contract when the box car is humped to another car or subjected to other bumps and jolts.

'Ihe present invention specically relates to an improved end tting construction for connecting the freight bracing bars to the belt rails in a manner to enable them to be quickly unlocked -therefrom and slidably adjusted along the belt rails. An end fitting 26 embodying features of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. It is comprised of a shank 28 having a cylindrical portion 30 on the left end thereof and an enlarged, annular flatted portion 32 at the inner end of the cylindrical portion 30. The shank 28 can be either rigidly affixed or telescopically mounted within the bar 24 so that it can telescope in and out of the end of the bar as previously described. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the shank is telescopically disposed within a tubular socket 33 rigidly mounted within the end of the freight bracing bar. A head 34 is rotatably journaled on the cylindrical portion 30 and has a set screw 36 extending into an annular groove 38 in the cylindrical portion 30 to fix the head against axial movement while enabling it to rotate relative to the cylindrical portion.

A pair of pin-supporting portions 40 and 42 project outwardly from the head 26 and are provided with relatively fiat surfaces 44 and 46, respectively, from which pins 48 and 50 project in opposite directions and extend into the holes 23 in the belt rail to lock the end fitting to the belt rail. The flat surface 44 engages the upper surface of the horizontal flange of the belt rail 22 to support the bar 24 thereon, and is relatively wider than the surface 46, extending from one side of the end fitting past the center thereof to provide greater stability.

A locking plunger 52 slidably extends through the head 34 beneath the pin-supporting portion 4t) and is spring biased to the left as viewed in FIG. by a suitable spring 54. A bushing 56 is secured to the right end of the locking plunger 52 to limit the projection of the left end of the locking plunger from the head 34. In -the position illustrated in solid lines, the bushing 56 engages one of the flats on the annular atted portion 32 to prevent rotation of the head 34 relative to the cylindrical portion 30 of the shank, and the left end of the locking plunger extends beneath the horizontal flange of the belt rail 22 to prevent the head 34 from -rotating through a sufiicient angle relative to the belt rail to disengage the pins 48 and 50 from the holes 23.

In this position the end fitting 26 firmly connects the freight bracing bar 24 to the belt rail 22. When it is desired to move the freight bracing bar to a new position,

the locking plunger 52 is merely retracted to the position illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2 so that the bushing 56 clears the annular atted portion 32 and the left end thereof clears the horizontal flange of the belt rail 22. The head 34 is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 to the position illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein the pins 48 and 5t) are disengaged from the holes 23. It will be observed that the corner of the pin supporting portion 40 is rounded as at 58 to facilitate this rotary movement. 1f desired, the juncture between adjacent flats on the flatted portion 32 can be positioned to overlap the end of the bushing 57 to lock the plunger in its retracted position, or the locking plunger can be manually held in its retracted position.

Once the position illustrated in FIG. 6 has been reached, the end tting can be either completely disengaged from the belt rail or the rounded corner 58 can be maintained in engagement with the upper surface of the horizontal flange to enable a workman to slide the end fitting and freight bracing bar along the belt rails to a new position without having to support the weight of the freight bracing bar. If desired the end fitting may Abe rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6 beyond the position there illustrated, so that the plunger 52 may be extended above the flange and coop erate with the rounded corner 58 in supporting the endl fitting during movement to the new position. When the new position has been reached, the freight bracing bar can be held against the article of freight and the end fitting 26 rotated in a clockwise direction to engage the pins 48 and 50 in a new pair of the holes 23. The locking plunger 52 is then released to `snap back to its projected position beneath the flange of the belt rail, the bushing 56 engaging one of the flats to prevent rotation between the head 34 and cylindrical portion 30 of the shank.

In addition to being able to support the weight of the freight bracing bar and end fittings on the belt rails as he slides the freight bracing bar to a new position, the Workman can firmly abut the freight engaging face of the freight bracing bar directly against the article of freight to be braced and rotate the heads 34 individually to move the pins 43 and S0 into the holes 23 at the new position as described above. If two workmen are handling the freight bracing bar, one can be stationed at each end of the bar so that they can force the bar firmly against the freight to make certain it is tightly packed against other freight or one of the walls of the box car, and they can hold the freight in this position by means of the freight bracing bar while they each rotate the head 34 at their end of the bar into locking engagement with the holes 23 in the belt rails. Thus, the construction of the end fittings enables the articles of freight to be more firmly braced by the freight bracing bars.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, an end fitting 60 illustrating another embodiment of the present invention comprises a head 62 and a shank 64 which are integral with one another rather than rotatably connected as in the end fitting 26. The right end of the shank 64 has a plurality of longitudinally extending flats 66 thereon and is telescopically disposed within the end of the freight bracing bar 26 as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The head 62 is substantially the same as the head 34 of the end fitting 26 and has longitudinally extending pin supporting portions 67 and 68 having pins 70 and 72 projecting therefrom into the holes 23 in the belt rail 22.

The flatted portion of the shank 64 is telescopically disposed in a tubular socket which is rigidly secured within the end of the freight bracing bar 26, and a latch mechanism 82 is mounted on the tubular socket 80 and is adapted to cooperate with the flats 66 to rcleasably lock the end fitting 69 against rotation relative to the freight bracing bar 26 as will be described.

The particular freight bracing bar 26, illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 by way of example, briefly comprises a square tubular body 84 having a longitudinally extending Z- shaped reinforcing member 86 secured therein. Legs 88 and 90 of the Z-shaped member are suitably secured to the side walls of the body 84, such as by bolts 92, so that the web 94 of the Z-shaped member lies substantially on the midplane of the freight bracing bar. The outer end of the web 94 is notched as at 96 and the tubular socket 80 is suitably fixed within the notch 96, such as by welding.

The outer end of the tubular socket 80 is also provided with an outwardly presenting notch in the upper portion thereof through which the latch mechanism 82 projects to engage the flatted portion of the shank 64. The

latchilrnec'hanism 'S2 lcomprises a latch body 102 having 'an :upper `wall '104, and downwardly extending rear and sidelegs .106, 108 and 110, respectively. The rear leg "1061er" the latch body 102 is shorter than the legs 103 V'=a'1'1d=110;as indicated at 112.(FIG. 7 to provideclearance ybetween-the'latch'body and the llatted portion of the shank -64' so thatzthe latch body will not interfere with the rotation of the shank within the tubular socket 80. The side '.legsf'108 and110 engagelthe upper side edges of the .notch '100'an'd the `rear leg 106 abuts against the rear edge of the'notch y100. An end plate 114 is suitably secured -withinthe end of the freight bracing bar 26 is position yto coverthe'open end thereof and to retain the latch body 102 in position. The latch body 102 Vmay be rigidly secured to the socket 80 .and the square body 84 `of the "freight bracing bar' 26 or,' if desired, it can be mechanically locked in this position by the surrounding elements. The

plate 114` is pro-vided with ay circular aperture 116'having a slightly larger diameter than the shank 64 so that it Vwill not interfere-with the rotation of the shank '64 relative to the'freight bracing Ibart26. The plate Vis als'oprovided with a 'downwardlypresenting notch 117 communicating'with the upper portion of the aperture 116 and -havinga width slightly less than the spacing between the side Vlegs S-.and 110 of the latch body102, the width of the l notch 117 being most .clearly illustrated in dotted and dashed 4lines in FIG. 9.

vA latchmember 118 (illustrated separately in FIG. 14) is slidably disposed within the latch body 102 and is spring urged to the left, as viewed in FIG. 7, by a suitable spring V120 having oneend bearing against the latch member 118 and the other `end bearing against the rear leg 106 of the latchibody. The upper'surface of the latch member 11S vhas-sloping surfaces 122l and 124 joined by a horizontal Asurface 126 therebetween. The-fro-nt end of the latchV Amember llprojects through the'notch 116 in the plate 114, as illustrated in FIG. 7, and the sloping portion 1-24 vis adapted toengage asimilar slopingsurface 128 on the underside of the upper wall 5104 of the latch body. The lower surface 130 of the latch member 118'has an inl-verted V-shaped :crosssection adapted to slidably mate with adjacent ats 66 on the vshank64 to releasably lock -the -end tt'ing60 against rotationrelative to lthe freight bracing lbar 26.

-When` it isdesired to rotate the end fitting relative to the freight bracing barf26, the latch member'11'0 is urged Arearwardly into the latch body'102' until a suthcient clearance is provided between the upper rear edge ofy the latch member 118'and atlatportion. 132 at the rear ofthe upper -wall M14-ofthe latch bo'dytoenable the latch member 113 to be lifted within the latch body in response to the rotation of the end tting 60 to ratchet past the juncltures of the flats 66. As`soon as the end tting-'has been rotated -a suicient distance to disengage'the pins 70 and 72 `from the holes '23 in thebelt rail V22, the locking plunger 74, of course, being retracted'iirst, as previously described, the latch member 118 canibe released to enable the spring Y -120-'to'resiliently urge it outwardly ofthe latch body 102 -to again lock the endtting against rotation and, consequently, to retain the hea'd`62 in a position similar to that `-illustrated'inFlC 6 Wherethe pins `70van`d 72 are disengagedfrom the holes 23. The kend fitting can then slide on the rounded cornerSS, as previouslyl described,-until a new position is'reached. The'latch member1`18 isthen moved .rearwardly to enable the flatted portion of the shank'64 totfberotated're'lative to the latch' member until and lltlofthe'latch'.` body as most clearly yillustrated-by vthe dotted andda'shedlinesin FIG. 9 which. indicate'the vwidth of 'the'notch. The frontrportion of the latch'member-'110' has substantially the same width as the` notch1117, Vandthe rear-portion of the latch member1'18 haslaterally 'extending wings 134having substantiallyfthe-'same width asthelspacing between the' legs 108. and 110 lof the latch body. The ilanges 134 providesshoulders135y which. are

-positioned'to abuttingly: engage the rear face of theA plate '114 when the latch member118 isin theposition illusvtrated inFIG. 7 to limit the-movement ofthe latch mem- Vber .to the left. This prevents thespring from forcing the latch member 118 to theleft'with a sufficient force v.to `wedge the r'sloping. portions=124 andt128 of the latch member 110 and latch body `102 together. in amanner to linter- .ferewith the movement'ofthe'latch memberto the right.

With the construction of the embodiment `justdescr`ibe'd, the head 62 `andishanktt are an integral, one-piececonstruction andthe latch vmechani'smz cooperates vwithwthe 'ats66 on the shank to releasably .lockthe yend fitting 60 against rotation lrelative to the freight bracing/bar.

further advantage of this construction is thatk after the end fitting has been rotated to disengage the pins from the holes'23, the latch Amember 118 can -be released to lock Ithe end ritting-in its disengaged position and thusfacilit'ate thesliding of the. endlttingalongmthe belt rail to anew position.

Referring to' FIGS.l 10-13, -an endiit'ting1`40 is shown which illustrates another'embodiment ofthe lpresentin- Ven'tion The end fitting "140. comprises an elongated body 141 having a shankr142 onlthe-inner' end thereofyandf a cylindrical portion 144 near the outer end thereof with an enlarged `llatted' portion having a plurality of longitudinally extendingflats 148 on the outerend thereof. Theshnk 142 is telescopically 'disposed within a tubular socket150 .suitablyiixed within the rend of the freight "brac'ing'ban -A suitable spring=152 is` disposed within the tubular socket 150 between a downwardly exten'dingflange 154 onv the yshank 142 and a suitablerinternal shoulder (not shown) -on the freight bracing bar to resiliently urge theshank 142 outwardly of'thefrei'ght' bracing bar. A tab 1'56 projects downwardly from the topof the tubular `socket k1'50 in position to'engage an upwardly extending vrear angef1758 onthefshank tolimit the movement of the shank-142 outwardly of the' freight bracing bar.

-The atted rend portion 146 has two outwardly presenting diametrical slots 160 and 161 therein. The slot-'160 is adapted tov t over andfslidablyN engage thehoriz'ont'al ange of the belt rail`22` to support the end fitting 140 on-the beltrail, and the spring 152 resilientlylretains-the `slot .160V in engagementwith the horizontalflange. lThe slot 161is-provided for engaging a vertical'ange 'as will be described. A head 162is slipped over the right end of the shank `142 and :is rotatably journaled onthe cir- 55 cular portion '144 of the'body-141 and is adapted to'abut against an annular shoulder 164 on the right end ofthe tlatted endportion 146 to'limitrnovement of thehea'd to the left asviewedinFIGS. l0 and 11. A'pair of spaced pin supporting portions g166 and 16S project outwardly from the end 'of thehead 162 and'have pins 170 and 172 projecting downwardlyrand upwardly therefrom; yrespectively, into engagement with the holes 23" in thebelt rail. The pin supporting-portions 166 and 168 arespaced apart a sufficient distance to clear the atted endeporton S146 so that the head 162 can rotate onthe cylindrical portion 144. A locking plunger 174 is slidably disposed in a bore'176 in the head with a coil spring 178 disposed within the ybore about a stem 179 projecting from the right 'end ofthe locking plunger to resiliently urge the vlocking plunger to the left as viewed in FIGS. l0, 1l and 13. The right end of the stem 179 slidably projects through the head 162 and has an enlarged head 180 formed Vthereon to limit the projection of the locking plunger 174 to the left.

In the position illustrated in FIGS. l0 and 11, it will be observed that the locking plunger '1-74 b overlies one of the flats 143 on the fiatted end portion to lock the head 162 against rotation on the cylindrical portion 144. Therefore, the end fitting is firmly conf. neeted to the belt rail and cannot accidentally be disconnected. To disengage the end fitting from the belt rail, the locking plunger 174 is retracted to clear the flatted end portion 146, and the head 162 is rotated rela tive to the body 141 a sufficient distance to disengage the pins 170 and 172 from the holes 23. When the head has been rotated a sufficient distance, the locking plunger 174 can be released and the head adjusted slightly so that the locking plunger overlies a fiat 148 adjacent thereto to hold the head in this disengaged position.

Since the shank is urged to the left by the spring 152 in the tubular socket 150, the slot 169 in the flatted end portion will remain in engagement with the horizontal flange of the belt rail so that the end fitting will slidably support the freight bracing bar on the belt rail. The end fitting and freight bracing bar can then be moved along the belt rail to a new position Without requiring that the workman support the weight of the freight bracing bar and end fittings on the ends thereof. If it is desired to completely disengage the end fitting from a particular belt rail and shift it to a different belt rail, the shank 142 is merely retracted to compress the spring 152 until the flatted end portion 146 clears the horizontal flange of the belt rail 22, after which it can be connected to a different belt rail. If there is sufficient room within the box car, the end fittings can also be disengaged from the belt rails by angling the freight bracing bar relative to the side walls until the end fittings slip on or off the belt rails.

When a new position on a belt rail is reached the locking plunger 174 is again retracted and the head 162 rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 12 to engage the pins 176 and 172 in the holes 23 adjacent thereto as illustrated, and the locking plunger 174 released so that it again overlies the fiat 148 and locks the head against rotation. It Will also be observed that when the head is rotated to disengage the pins 170 and 172 from the holes 23, the entire head is free to slide rearwardly on the shank 142 a sufficient distance so that the pin supporting portions 166 and 16S clear the horizontal fiange 122 in a manner to also enable the end fitting to be shifted laterally Without interference from the pins. When the new position is reached the head 162 is merely advanced forwardly until the pin supporting portions 166 and 16S overlie the horizontal flange of the belt rail, and the head rotated to engage the pins in the holes 23 and enable thc locking plunger to snap over the flat 148 to lock the head in this position, as previously described. The side edges 162 of the shank 142 are preferably formed on substantially the same center of curvature as the cylindrical portion 144 to facilitate the sliding movement of the head 162 on the shank 142 as described above.

By providing the vertically extending slot 161 in the fiatted end portion 146 the crossmember may be used as a stationary load support bar with the horizontal flange of a horizontal belt rail received in the slot 161 when the crossmember body has been rotated through an angle of ninety degrees. Also by providing the slot 161 the end fitting is also adapted to connect the freight bracing bar to a vertically extending beit rail 22. To accomplish this the slot 161 is merely fitted over the fiange of the vertical belt rail and the head 162 is rotated substantially 90 from the position illustrated in FIGS. 10l2 to engage the pins 170 and 172 in suitable holes provided in the flange of the vertical belt rail, the locking plunger 174 slipping over another fiat 14S to lock the head against rotation. With this construction the flatted end portion prevents horizontal movement of the end fitting relative to the vertical belt rail and the pins 170 and 172 prevent vertical movement of the end fitting along the vertical belt rail.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that crossmembers constructed according to each of the above described embodiments are adapted to be placed in a number of positions and attitudes for use in resisting irnpact and stationary loads and that the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 9 are also adapted for positioning the crossbar body in intermediate positions for engaging odd-shaped loads.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments herein illustrated are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An end fitting for connecting the end of a freight bracing bar to a ange of a belt rail, said end fitting having a shank on the inner end thereof adapted to be mounted within the end of the freight bracing bar and a head on the outer end thereof, means projecting from said head in position to overlap opposite sides of the flange, said projecting means including pin means adapted to be rotated into engagement with opposite sides of the liange in response to rotation of said head to lock the end fitting against movement substantially parallel to the plane of the fiange, said projecting means locking the end fitting against movement perpendicular to the fiange, and locking means for releasably locking said head against rotation relative to said fiange to maintain said pin means in locked engagement with the ange.

2. The invention as defined in claim l including means on the outer end of said end fitting for engaging the flange of the belt rail in a manner to slidably support the end fitting thereon and to enable said head to rotate relative to the flange to engage and disengage said pin means from the fiange to free the end fitting for sliding movement along the fiange.

3. An end fitting for connecting the end of a freight bracing bar to an apertured flange of a belt rail, said end fitting having a shank on the inner end thereof adapted to be mounted within the end of the freight bracing bar, means on the outer end of the end fitting adapted to be disposed to overlap opposite sides of said fiange and rofated about an axis parallel to the axis of said shank into locking engagement with opposite sides of said flange of said belt rail and into at least one of the apertures thereof to lock the end fitting against movement parallel to the belt rail and perpendicular thereto, and locking means on said end fitting for releasably locking said first named means against rotation relative to the belt rail to maintain said first named means in locked engagement with the belt rail.

4. An end fitting for connecting the end of a freight bracing bar to a belt rail having a plurality of spaced apertures therein, said end fitting having a shank on one end thereof adapted to be mounted within the end of the freight bracing bar and a head on the other end thereof adapted to be releasably connected to the belt rail, means mounting said head on said end fitting for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said shank, said head having spaced pin supporting portions projecting outwardly therefrom in position to overlap opposite sides of the belt rail, said pin supporting portions having pin means projecting laterally therefrom and adapted upon rotation of said head to be rotated into apertures in the belt rail, and means for releasably locking said head against rotation relative to said belt rail to hold said pins in the apertures.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein one of said pin supporting portions has a supporting surface thereon adapted to ride on the side of the fiange adjacent thereto to support the end tting on the fiange and to enable it to slide along the fiange when the pins are disengaged from the apertures.

6. An end fitting `for connecting the end of a freight *bracing bar to a" flange of. a belt rail having a' plurality of :spacedapertures therein, said end'iitting haw'ng a shank on the inner end thereof 'adapted to'be'mounted within the end of the freight bracing bar and a head onthe outer :end thereof adapted to be'releasably connected tothe that upon rotation of said head they can be rotated into spaced apertures inthe belt rail, and means for releasably locking said head against rotation relative to said belt rail tohold said pins in the'apertures.

7. An end fitting for connecting'the end ofthe. freight ybracing bar to a belt rail having a plurality of spaced apertures therein, said end fitting comprising an elongated body having a shankon the `inner end thereof adapted to be mounted within the end of the freight bracing bar and la cylindricalportion on the outer end thereof with an annular atted portion adjacent to the inner end of the cylindrical portion, a head rotatably journaled on said cylindrical portion, meansfor fixing said head against axial movement relative to said cylindrical. portion, rst

and second laterally spaced pin supportingportions priojecting longitudinally from said head in position to overlap opposite sides of the belt rail, pin. means projecting laterally from each of Said pin supporting portions Sand adapted to be rotated into apertures in the belt rail in respense to rotation of said head, and locking plunger means on said .head adjacent to said first pin supporting portion and movable between a .retracted position vand 'an extended position wherein it overlapsithe side of the flange .opposite to the side overlapped 'by said first pin supporting portion -to lock the head against rotation `rel- 'ati've to the belt rail, said locking plunger `meansincluding means'for releasably engaging saidannular iiatted portion of said -body when in said extended position `to lock the head against rotation relative to the bodyand Vto enable said head to rotate'relative tothe body when' said lock- Aing plungermeans is in its retractedposition.

8..The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein'each vof said pin supporting portions 'h'asa flat surface portion,

v -said flat surface portions lying in parallel spaced-apart Iplanes lfacing toward but .laterally 'offset lfrom 'one another, and wherein the pin meanson each ofsaid pin supporting portions projects perpendicularly from the fiat surface portions thereof.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein one of i said fiat surface portions is relatively lwide and the other surface portion is relatively narrow, said 'relatively'wide -1 surface portion extending from one side oftheend'titting to a point beyond the'center line of theend fitting to enable it to rest onthe flange in a stable fmanner.

10. In a freightbracingsystem.for securing freight-in a storage space having belt rails secured tothe side walls thereof and each havingla iia'ngehaving-apertures-spaced therealong'a freight bracing bar adapted 'to spant/between the side Wallsand having surfaces selectively engageable with freight to be braced, 'an end fitting for releasably connecting oneend of thefreight bracingbar to'` one of the belt rails, said end fitting comprising an elongated body having a shank "on the inner end thereof and a head on vthe outer end thereof, means `for telescopically and rotatably mounting said shank within said one end of the freight bracing bar, latch means on saidfreight bracing bar for releasably latching said shank against rotation relative to said freight bracing bar, and means on said head adapted to be disposed to overlap opposite sides of said ange and adapted upon rotation of said shankrelative to said bar to be rotated without movement ofsaid surfaces relative'to said freight-into locking engagement withfoppositesides of the'belt rail' and into at least one of-said apertures'to'lock the end fitting against movement substantally perpendicular-to the belt rail and parallel to Athetplane defined by the flange and freightbracing-bar.

1l. The inventionas defined in claim-lOwhereimsaid shank has a longitudinally flatted end portion, andsaid latchnieanscornprises a latch bodysecuredwithinsaid one end of the freight bracing bar and overlying :said

'-atted 'end portion, Va latch `member slidably .disposed 'within said latch body and 'slidablyengaging Ysaid flatted end portion,'said` latch "member being' normally resiliently biased'to'a' first position wherein it is wedged betweenfrsaid latch body andfiatted-end portion in amanner-to lock the shank against rotation relative to lthe freightbracing bar, and a'second retracted position wherein itis free to move upwardlywithin the latch body to enable the shank to be rotated-relative to thefreight bracing'bar, the latch -member ratcheting up and down'within the latch bodyin 'response to the rotation oftheshankwhen insaidt-second position` l12. vThe invention as defined in claim `l1 wherein said latchibody and-latch member havecomplementary lsloping lsurfaces vthereon with the sloping surface of Y`the -latch body being longer than the slopingfsurface offthelatch member, said sloping surfaces Yabuttingly engaging one `another when'said latch vmember-is in said first position and `beingvertically spaced from one another when said latch ymember is in saidvsecond vposition to'enablefthe latch member to ratchet'upand down over ssaid .flatted `end-pt ntionin response tothe'. rotation ofthe shank.

.13. The inventionas defined in claiml2includingistop means-for limiting the Vmovement of` said latch member toward said ifirst positi'on to prevent excessive wedging of said sloping surfaces. y

l1'4. In a freight bracing system Yfor securing f reightin Aa storage spacezhaving belt rails .securedto-therside walls yably engage the .belt rail, means for telescopicallymount- :ing said shank within said one end of thel freight bracing bar in am'anner to prevent relative rotation therebetween, .resilient means for resiliently urging said shankoutwardly of the'freight 'bracing .bar to resiliently maintain the slot in said outer endinsli'ding engagement with thebelt rail,

a headslidably androtata'bly mounted on said body near "said outerend thereof' forsliding movement along and rotation about an axis substantiallyparallel to said bar, stop "means on said'body'for limiting sliding movement of said head `toward said outer end, means 'on said head adapted 'to overlie 'and'to be rotated upon "rotation yof 'saidy head linto ylocking engagement'with opposite sides of lthebelt rail toprevent movement of said end fitting substantially parallel to 'the plane Vdeiin'e'dfby said belt rail and freight -bracing bar, and locking means for releasably locking `saidihead against rotation relative to *said body to main- 'tain said last mentioned means' in' locked engagement with said beltrail.

15. Ina 'freight 'bracingsystem for Asecuring'freiglitfin 1a-storage spacehaving belt 'rails secured tothe sidewalls thereof, a'freigh-t bracing bar adapted to Vspanbetv'leen the sidewalls, an end tting for rele'asably connecting one end ofthe freight'bracingbartoone of the belt rails, "said vend fitting comprising an lelongated body having a shank on the'inner end thereof andan outwardlyY presenting slot in the outer end thereof adapted to-fit over and'slidably engage said belt rail, means for telescopically mounting said-shank within said one'end ofthe'freight bracing bat ina manner to prevent .relative'rotation therebetween,

vresilient meansforresiliently urgin'g'saidshank outwardly r ofthe freight .bracing bar to 'resilientlyma'intain theslot in said outer end in sliding engagement with the belt rail, a head slidably and rotatably mounted on said body near said outer end thereof, stop means on said body for limiting sliding movement of said `head toward said outer end, pin supporting portions projecting outwardly from said head along the sides of said outer end of the body and spaced apart a sufficient distance to clear said body, pin means projecting laterally from each of said pin supporting portions in opposite directions and adapted to be rotated into engagement with opposite sides of the belt rail to lock the end fitting against movement parallel to the plane defined by the belt rail and freight bracing bar, and locking means for releasably locking said head against rotation relative to said body to maintain said last mentioned means in locked engagement with the belt rail.

16. In a freight bracing system for securing freight in a storage space having belt rails secured to the side walls thereof, a freight bracing bar adapted to span between the side walls, an end fitting for releasably connecting one end of the freight bracing bar to one ofthe belt rails, said end fitting comprising an elongated Ibody having a shank on the inner end and an enlarged annular atted portion at the outer end thereof with a cylindrical portion adjacent to the fiatted portion, means for telescopically mounting said shank within said one end of the freight bracing bar in a manner to prevent relative rotation therebetween, said outer end of said body having an outwardly presenting slot therein adapted to fit over and slidably engage said belt rail, resilient means for resiliently urging said shank outwardly of the freight bracing bar to resiliently maintain the slot in said outer end in engagement with the belt rail, a head rotatably mounted on said cylindrical portion, a pair of pin supporting portions projecting outwardly from said head along the sides of said iiatted portion and spaced apart a sufficient distance to clear said flatted portion, pin means projecting laterally from each of said pin supporting portions in opposite directions and adapted to be rotated into locking engagement with opposite sides of the belt rail, and locking plunger means on said head movable from an extended position wherein it overlies said liatted portion in a manner to lock the head against rotation relative to said body to a retracted position wherein it clears said flatted end portion and enables said head to freely rotate relative to said body in order to move said pin means into and out of locking engagement with said one belt rail.

17. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said locking plunger means comprises a plunger slidably mounted on said head and adapted to slide between a first position and a second position, and resilient means for normally resiliently biasing said plunger to said first position, said plunger overlying a fiat on said annular atted portion when in said first position to lock the head against rotation relative to said body, and being retracted clear of the annular liatted portion when in said second position to enable said head to freely rotate relative to said body to engage and disengage said pin means from lthe belt rail.

18. An end fitting for connecting a freight bracing bar to a belt rail, said end fitting comprising an elongated body having a shank on the inner end thereof adapted to be mounted within the end of the freight bracing bar and an outwardly presenting slot in the outer end thereof adapted to fit over and slidably engage the belt rail to support the end fitting on the belt rail for sliding movement therealong, a head slidably and rotatably mounted on said body near said outer end thereof for sliding movement along and rotation about an axis substantially parallel to said bar, stop means on said body for limiting sliding movement of said head toward said outer end, means on said head adapted to overlie and to be rotated upon rotation of said head into locking engagement with the opposite sides of the belt rail to prevent movement of said end fitting substantially parallel to the plane defined by said belt rail and freight bracing bar, and locking means 12 for releasably locking said head against rotation relative to said body to maintain said last mentioned means in locked engagement with said belt rail.

19. An end fitting for connecting a freight bracing bar to a belt rail, said end fitting comprising an elongated body having a shank on the inner end thereof adapted to be mounted within one end of the freight bracing bar and an enlarged annular flatted portion at the outer end thereof with a cylindrical portion adjacent to the annular flatted portion, said outer end of said body having an outwardly presenting slot therein adapted to fit over and slidably engage said belt rail, a head rotatably mounted on said cylindrical portion, a pair of pin supporting portions projecting outwardly from said head along the sides of said annular flatted portion and spaced apart a stiflicient distance to clear the annular flatted portion, pin means projecting laterally from each of said pin supporting portions in opposite directions and adapted to be rotated into locking engagement with opposite sides of the belt rail, and locking plunger means on said head movable from an extended position wherein it overlies said annular flatted portion in a manner to lock the head against rotation relative to said body to a retracted position wherein it clears saidv fiatted end portion and enables said head to freely rotate relative to said body in order to move said pin means into and out of locking engagement with said one belt rail.

20. The invention as defined in claim 19 wherein said locking plunger means comprises a plunger slidably mounted on said head and adapted to slide between a first position and a second position, and resilient means for normally resiliently biasing said plunger to said first position, said plunger overlying a flat on said annular fiatted portion when in said first position to lock the head against rotation relative to said body, and being retracted clear of the annular fiatted portion when in said second position to enable said head to freely rotate relative to said body to engage and disengage said pin means from the belt rail.

2l. In a freight bracing system for securing freight in a storage space having belt rails secured to the side walls thereof, a freight bracing bar adapted to span between the side walls, an end fitting for releasably connecting one end of the freight bracing bar to one of the belt rails, said end fitting having a shank on the inner end thereof, means for telescopically mounting said shank within said one end of the freight bracing bar in a manner to prevent relative rotation therebetween, means on the outer end of said end fitting for slidably engaging said one belt rail to support the end fitting for sliding movement therealong and to support the end fitting against movement perpendicular to the belt rail, resilient means for resiliently urging said shank outwardly of the freight bracing bar to resiliently maintain the means on the outer end of said end fitting in sliding engagement with the belt rail, and rotatable means mounted on said end fitting for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to said bar and adapted to be rotated into locking engagement with the belt rail to releasably lock the end fitting against sliding movement relative to the belt rail.

22. An end fitting for connecting a freight bracing bar to a belt rail, said end fitting having a shank on the inner end thereof adapted to be mounted within the end of the freight bracing bar, means on the outer end of said end fitting for slidably engaging the belt rail in a manner to enable the end fitting to slide along the belt rail and to restrict the end fitting against movement perpendicular to the belt rail and perpendicular to said shank, and rotatable means mounted on said end fitting for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to said bar and rotatable into and out of locking engagement with the belt rail to releasably lock the end fitting against sliding movement relative to the belt rail.

23. The invention as defined in claim 22 including locking plunger means on said end tting for releasably locking said rotatable means against rotation to maintain the rotatable means in locking engagement with the belt rail.

24. The invention as defined in claim 23 wherein said rotatable means comprises a head rotatably mounted on said end fitting near the outer end thereof, and means on said head adapted to be rotated into and out of locking engagement with opposite sides of the belt rail.

25. An end fitting for connecting the end of a freight bracing bar to a belt rail having a plurality of spaced apertures therein, said end fitting having a shank on one end thereof adapted to be mounted within the end of the freight bracing bar and a head on the other end thereof adapted to be releasably connected to the belt rail, said head having spaced pin supporting por-tions projecting outwardly therefrom in position to overlap opposite sides of the belt rail, said pin supporting portions having pin means projecting laterally therefrom and adapted to be rotated into apertures in the belt rail, and means for releasably locking said head against rotation relative to said belt rail to hold said pins in the apertures, one of said pin supporting means having a supporting surface thereon adapted to ride on the side of the flange adjacent thereto to support the end fitting on the fiange and' to enable it to slide along the iiange when the pins are disengaged from the apertures, said supporting surface being relatively fiat with a rounded portion adjacent one edge thereof, said rounded portion providing a bearing surface for enabling said end fitting to rotate on the fiange to engage and disengage the pins from the apertures and to slide along the flange when the pins are disengaged.

26. An end fitting for connecting a freight bracing bar to a belt rail, said end fitting comprising an elongated body having a shank on the inner end thereof adapted to be mounted within the end of the freight bracing bar and an outwardly presenting slot in the outer end thereof adapted to fit over and slidably engage the belt rail, a head slidably and rotatably mounted on said body near said outer end thereof, stop means on said body for limiting sliding movement of said head toward said outer end, means on said head adapted to overlie and to be rotated into locking engagement with the opposite sides of the belt rail to prevent movement of said end fitting substantially parallel to the plane defined by said belt rail and freight bracing bar, and locking means for releasably locking said head against rotation relative to said body to maintain said last mentioned means in locked engagement with said belt rail, said means on said head comprising pin supporting portions projecting outwardly from said head along the sides of said outer end of the body and spaced apart a sufiicient distance to clear said body, pin means projecting laterally from each of said pin supporting portions in opposite directions and adapted to be rot-ated into engagement with opposite sides of the belt rail to lock the end fitting against movement substantially parallel to the plane defined by the belt rail and freight bracing bar, and wherein said locking means releasably locks said head against rotation relative to said body to maintain said pin means in locked engagement with the belt rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,826,388 Janos et al. Mar. 11, 1958 2,879,722 Dunlap Mar, 3l, 1959 2,896,554 Johnston July 28, 1959 2,901,987 Campbell et al. Sept. 1, 1959 2,993,708 Holman July 25, 1961 

1. AN END FITTING FOR CONNECTING THE END OF A FREIGHT BRACING BAR TO A FLANGE OF A BELT RAIL, SAID END FITTING HAVING A SHANK ON THE INNER END THEREOF ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED WITHIN THE END OF THE FREIGHT BRACING BAR AND A HEAD ON THE OUTER END THEREOF, MEANS PROJECTING FROM SAID HEAD IN POSITION TO OVERLAP OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FLANGE, SAID PROJECTING MEANS INCLUDING PIN MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ROTATED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FLANGE IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID HEAD TO LOCK THE END FITTING AGAINST MOVEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE FLANGE, SAID PROJECTING MEANS LOCKING THE END FITTING AGAINST MOVEMENT PERPENDICULAR TO THE FLANGE, AND LOCKING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID HEAD AGAINST ROTATION RELATIVE TO SAID FLANGE TO MAINTAIN SAID PIN MEANS IN LOCKED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FLANGE. 